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Pigtails in Paint: The Return

I suppose, on some deep layer of my consciousness, I never really doubted that Pigtails #1 would eventually fall victim to censorship. While at the outset battling censorship was only one small part of what this blog was about, towards the end it became increasingly clear to me that I and my sweet little blog were at the very van of the front line of one of the weightiest and hard-fought battles of the Culture War: the right of artists to depict children in the nude or in erotic contexts, and in that respect we held a unique status on the internet. Thus, it became one of our central missions.

With the addition of Ron as an editor to the blog, I had a kindred spirit who was at least as passionate as I was in giving those artists who had chosen to tread that difficult, controversial path not only further recognition and exposure (not that all of them needed it; artists like Jock Sturges and Sally Mann are practically household names, but they have both been through the fire and so deserve all of the fame and accolades that have come of it) but also a serious examination of what this art represents to a culture that is hell-bent on suppressing the rich and—until recently anyway—esteemed history of the nude child and adolescent in art. Of course, as I point out on the About This Site page, we only tackle one half of that history: the feminine half.

And, once again, that aspect is merely one facet of what this site is about, but given that it is an important one to us and was, alas, the reason we were zapped from the internet universe by the WordPress Death Star, it bears delving into at the outset of Pigtails #2. The most important point here is that our readers may rest assured that we will not simply throw in the towel on that tradition just because we were burned once for doing so. If anything, we must redouble our efforts, by which I do not mean we must increase our percentages of nudes, search out and post the most contentious of said images, or anything of that nature; I speak simply of focusing more intently on our goals and maintaining vigilance in the face of a large and willful opposition. Yet . . . ex adversis bonus crescit, for the downfall of the old Pigtails has brought us to the higher ascent of the new.

Moreover, Pigtails the Elder did not perish in anonymity and abject poverty after all, for her youthful sirens drew Ron to her shores just in time, and he brought with him a veritable treasure of artist contacts (believe me when I tell you, among these are some of the biggest names in the art photography game—friendships which he has cultivated not for any gain for himself but simply for love of their work) which has enriched, and will continue to enrich, Pigtails and her readers.

As I reflect on the last two years, from the birth and infancy of the original Pigtails and all of the time, sweat and effort spent on her over the year and a half she was up, only to see all of that work deleted at the stroke of a key, I have to say that, even if I had known the Apocalypse was coming, and even if she was never to be seen or heard from again, I would not do a damn thing differently, and I am content that for her relatively short lifespan, Pigtails #1 made a massive difference. I must wonder at the number of artists that, out of dread of making waves in these already chancy and tumultuous waters, and who have perhaps suppressed the urge to produce work in this vein, arrived at Pigtails in Paint and were inspired enough by its presence to follow their muse after all. Maybe none. Then again, maybe there were many. I do know that, just prior to her abrupt end, Pigtails had come very close to her one millionth hit, not bad for a funky little art blog that focused on a very narrow subject: the young girl.

And now, without further ado, allow me to introduce the reincarnated, renovated and reinvigorated Pigtails in Paint . . .

About Pip Starr

I am the founder and original editor-in-chief of Pigtails in Paint, running it initially by myself for the first few years. Then Ron joined the party, and I eventually ceded overall control of Pigtails to him, taking a back seat to focus on other things. Best decision I've ever made.

3 thoughts on “Pigtails in Paint: The Return”

Hello Ron
You not know me; I do like your site and I have been looking it over, but have a slight number of questions about nude art. I have written a letter and I do not know how to get good results, if any. Can nudists express themselves in freely by non-pornographic art such as painting, charcoal drawing ,sculptures within the law? The letter deals with the law; the letter is 1 page and and half long. The population of nudist children like in Robert Mileham and others that I have been seeing on your site. The rest of the nudists are older. Can I send you a copy to review and to the Walter Law group? I asking where do I start and for help.

We at Pigtails are not legal experts and rely on those who are if there is something unusual we are not sure about. The law is different in each country, so I am only familiar with US law. The issue surrounds the idea of “lascivious display” of genitalia–clothed or unclothed. Although this is a subjective definition, people are liable to err on the side of conservatism except artists or journalists who are trying to push the limits to make a political point. Also, I believe this only applies to photography since there is concrete evidence that an actual child was involved in a specific pose or activity. For example, there are some rather shocking comics that some might say explore immoral ideas, but are nonetheless legal. This also seems to be the case in Japan with certain anime. You are welcome to approach the Walter group, but you should be aware that legal counsel costs money, so it depends on how important this issue is to you and whether you are willing to argue your point in court, should that situation arise.

I am so happy to read your words. I am in the middle of the scary and exhilarating process of “coming out” as a lover of girls ( loving them in a way very similar to how you describe) I look forward to exploring your site.